Transportation News: Train Travel Tips

Lauren McCarthy | May 25, 2011 12:00 pm | 3 comments | 2965 reads

New train regulations went into effect this week, so make sure to have the correct ID if you plan on any high-speed travel this summer, or the upcoming holiday weekend.

Proper identification is now required to purchase certain rail tickets. This applies to the soon-to-begin high-speed Beijing-Shanghai rail and trains lettered C, D, or G, which means any that travel over 200 km/hr.

There are 23 acceptable forms of ID, including passports which are the accustomed form for foreigners. Those without access to their passport can also show a copy, residence permits, foreign citizen exit-entry permits, seafarer's passports, letters issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and local embassies to prove a foreigner's identification and certificates issued by exit and entry administration departments to prove the loss of a passport.

Not included in that long list are driver’s licenses. And for anyone going through agents for purchasing rail tickets, expect problems since copies aren't accepted and possibly other older ID forms.

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Aier2's picture Aier2 Submitted by Guest on Wed, 08/03/2011 - 00:21

^ I take it all back.

Since the new line to SH, NanZhan has become as shit as every other station.

Heaving with yokels, massive queues etc.
Even the ceiling seems dirtier now.

Crowds of people sitting on the floor, dressed nongish....which is confusing as the high speed train to Shanghai isn't exactly the best deal in the world.

We went to one strangely free bench next to a potted plant amongst the masses and found what could only have been the stench of human feces and unwashed feet.

No joke, the space aged Nanzhan has already been ruined in just a couple of weeks lol.

Ah well, jia you!

Aier2's picture Aier2 Submitted by Guest on Fri, 06/10/2011 - 11:55

I take the high speed train to Tianjin all the time.

It's comfortable, clean and has none of the issues you mentioned.

I've never queued for more than a minute or two and Beijing South Railway station is the first Chinese train station I actually like.

bluefish's picture bluefish Submitted by Guest on Fri, 05/27/2011 - 18:42

I'm trying to figure out for what reason anyone in their right mind would take the highspeed train. Let's see...

You have to stand in line forever to get a ticket.

The prices are barely less than traveling by plane.

They stink, are uncomfortable and crowded.

At least before there was some kind of vague ease in getting a ticket at one of the bazillion ticket counters around town. Now you can't even do that. And those "random" ID checks somehow always concentrate on foreigners–probably because they're least likely to be pulling something on the train, and if you work for the trains you're always right if you argue with a foreigner, no matter how wrong you are.

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